Iddrisu, a Ghanaian Who Entered the U.S. During Trump’s Administration, Shares His Ordeal
Iddrisu, a Ghanaian who now resides in the United States, made a shocking revelation on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show with DJ Nyaami.
According to Iddrisu, he and four others—Nasir, Bigger, Samsu, and Mahmud—embarked on a dangerous journey to the U.S. through Mexico. However, they encountered several challenges along the way.
Upon reaching Tapachula, a contact gave Iddrisu the number of a man named Razak. Additionally, the Agbo brothers provided him with the number of an agent who was supposed to assist them. From Tapachula, they traveled for 12 hours and 30 minutes across the Pacific Ocean before arriving in Mexico City at dawn.
Iddrisu and his group contacted Razak, who instructed them to check into a hotel. Later, he moved them to another hotel, claiming he was his brother and could be trusted. After their arrival, they paid him $2,500 each to facilitate their crossing into the U.S. He initially charged $2,800 but later reduced it to $2,500, claiming they would travel by flight instead of by road.
They waited over the weekend before Razak provided them with fake CBP1 documents, which he said would allow them to board a flight. However, at the airport, they were stopped by immigration authorities, forcing them to return. At that point, Razak stopped answering Iddrisu’s calls. Eventually, they learned that Razak had been arrested after defrauding them of $25,000.
Realizing they had been scammed, the group sought the help of a Mexican agent, paying $1,800 each to continue their journey. Iddrisu, who was born in the U.S., was able to receive financial support from his family, but others, including Agbo and his friend, struggled to raise the needed funds.
The group endured 48 hours on a freight train, hiding among cargo containers. At one point, immigration officials stopped the train and used dogs to track them down. Out of 40 migrants, only 11 managed to escape while the rest were arrested. Iddrisu later shared Razak’s photo with local mafia members, hoping to track him down.
After more difficulties, they found another agent in Mexico and resumed their journey through the desert. At this point, their group had split—some were arrested, some deported, while others continued. Iddrisu was eventually detained at a U.S. immigration facility.
Iddrisu spent time in an immigration detention center after crossing the U.S. border on December 20th. He was detained on December 21st and released on February 4th, during Donald Trump’s presidency. He admitted that Trump’s strict immigration policies made him fearful, but his main goal was to enter the U.S. before Trump officially took office.
Reflecting on his experience, Iddrisu said that detention was a difficult and unhappy experience—one he wouldn’t wish on his worst enemy. He noted that many of his fellow travelers were still detained, and some had to pay large sums of money to be released.
Iddrisu, who studied at the University of Education, Winneba, explained that his brother supported him financially for a while, but he ultimately decided to take the risky journey due to visa difficulties. Unlike his brother, who traveled more easily via bus from Tapachula to Tijuana, Iddrisu endured a much harder route.
Now living with his cousin in New York, he admitted that while life in America is better than in Ghana, it is not as easy as people think. He mentioned that under Joe Biden’s administration, deportations still occur, though they are not as widely publicized as during Trump’s tenure.
When asked if he would advise others to take the same journey, he strongly discouraged it, suggesting that if people insist on migrating, they should explore legal pathways or consider staying in Brazil. However, he acknowledged that many would still attempt the journey despite the risks.
Iddrisu’s story serves as a warning to others who might be considering illegal migration, highlighting the dangers, deception, and hardships involved.
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